CCTV caught two thieves stealing £170-worth of goods from a South Shields Co-op
CCTV led to the arrest of a street homeless South Tyneside man who joined a friend in pinching £170 of food from a supermarket, a court heard.
Donovan Johns, 36, and an associate entered the Co-op’s store in Mortimer Road, South Shields, on Tuesday, November 4 – and promptly selected goods.
But they made off without paying for a basket load of grub before staff could intervene, borough magistrates were told.
Police were soon on their tails and first visited Johns’ pal’s property to carry out inquiries, prosecutor Jade Houston said.
They then reviewed in-store security footage from which Johns’ identity was revealed.
He committed the office while subject to a 12-month community order, designed to rehabilitate and stop him from offending.
The order was imposed on Tuesday, August 12, for an offence of failing to provide a sample for analysis while in charge of a vehicle.
Ms Houston added: “Two males have entered the Co-op store and taken £170.90 of items.
“Police attended the house of the other male and they then recognised this defendant from CCTV.
“He was cautioned and arrested and gave a ‘no comment’ interview.”
Johns, who has 22 previous convictions from 48 offences, pleaded guilty to a charge of theft from a shop.
Ms Houston said he had committed four theft offences between 2004 and 2015.
Geoffrey Forrester, defending, said: “He was subject to Probation but there were some breach proceedings, which may have extended the order.
“I’ve spoken to Probation, and he is still on their books.”
In a report, the Probation Service confirmed Johns had been sentenced in August for the motoring matter.
It said his community order compelled him to complete 27 rehabilitation days, of which he done only one.
He had been offered 21 appointments to progress it and had attended five, with 12 unacceptable absences.
Magistrates ordered Johns to pay half the amount of the stolen items as compensation to the Co-op, and fined him £40, with £85 court costs and a £16 victim surcharge.
They heard he owes £4,200 from fines and costs from previous offending.
The other offender is believed to have been dealt with by the courts separately.